“These figures just confirm why it is so important for the council to fight the additional 30 machines proposed at the Geelong RSL,” he said.

“Geelong has the most pokies and the most pokies venues of any Victorian council and the losses are only getting worse, so it is time for radical reforms to address these harms given that Australians spend more on gambling than any other country and Geelong’s per capita losses are above the Victorian average.”

Last week, the City of Greater Geelong agreed to invest around $8000 to hire external legal counsel to battle the RSL’s decision to increase its poker machines from 42 to 72.

The move, according to Councillor Sarah Mansfield, would afford the city the opportunity block the licences.

“I believe, as a council, we can and must do everything we can to reduce the harm from problem gambling related to pokies,” Cr Mansfield said.